OTC Antibiotics

What are your opinions on allowing antibiotics to become available over the counter? I remember some time ago there was talk of this and then it kind of dwindled away.
I haven't researched the topic and am basing this on my own opinions and frustrations. My DD gets frequent sinus infections during the summer. I know that an antibiotic will clear her of the infection and I also know that nothing else we have tried will get rid of it w/out an antibiotic. We spend $35 co-pay for the dr to tell us what we already know and to give us the prescription just to spend additional $$ on the prescription. There have been times when we foolishly took her to the dr too early and were denied antibiotics only to return 3 days later, pay another co-pay,take more time off of work and be given an antibiotic because it's an infection. Only her pediatrician knows what appears to be a runny nose one day will be a full blown infection if left untreated for more than a few days. We saw someone else in her practice who said she doesn't medicate runny noses, took one look up her nose and said, "gross." we walked away with an antibiotic.
I realize some people may abuse antibiotics if they were OTC, and that would cause our resistance to bacteria to become weak. While thinking about this, my only solution would be to have them track the antibiotic purchases like they do the decongestant medicine. After a # of purchases, a prescription or drs note is required (obviously by then you might be beyond an OTC antibiotic anyway).
Didn't mean to type a novel. I just don't want to come across as some lazy hack who wants to shove medicine down my kid's throat. Oh, I also don't think I know more than drs. Only when it comes to my kid's illnesses that I've been through many, many times.

What are your opinions on allowing antibiotics to become available over the counter? I remember some time ago there was talk of this and then it kind of dwindled away.
I haven't researched the topic and am basing this on my own opinions and frustrations. My DD gets frequent sinus infections during the summer. I know that an antibiotic will clear her of the infection and I also know that nothing else we have tried will get rid of it w/out an antibiotic. We spend $35 co-pay for the dr to tell us what we already know and to give us the prescription just to spend additional $$ on the prescription. There have been times when we foolishly took her to the dr too early and were denied antibiotics only to return 3 days later, pay another co-pay,take more time off of work and be given an antibiotic because it's an infection. Only her pediatrician knows what appears to be a runny nose one day will be a full blown infection if left untreated for more than a few days. We saw someone else in her practice who said she doesn't medicate runny noses, took one look up her nose and said, "gross." we walked away with an antibiotic.
I realize some people may abuse antibiotics if they were OTC, and that would cause our resistance to bacteria to become weak. While thinking about this, my only solution would be to have them track the antibiotic purchases like they do the decongestant medicine. After a # of purchases, a prescription or drs note is required (obviously by then you might be beyond an OTC antibiotic anyway).
Didn't mean to type a novel. I just don't want to come across as some lazy hack who wants to shove medicine down my kid's throat. Oh, I also don't think I know more than drs. Only when it comes to my kid's illnesses that I've been through many, many times.

I don't know that they will ever go to antibiotics being available OTC... there are too many varieties to do that. All of them (each group anyway) act on a different part of the cell/bacteria. That is why we see doctors (however pricey and annoying) is because they know which type is appropriate for the type of bacteria we have. For example amoxicillin does not do anything for a increasingly common infection called c-diff (mostly in hospitals, but just for an example) while Cipro and Flagly will treat the c-diff but not a common ear infection.

That being said, some doctors are a$$hats and don't know their butts from a hole in the ground.. We really can't win!

I don't know that they will ever go to antibiotics being available OTC... there are too many varieties to do that. All of them (each group anyway) act on a different part of the cell/bacteria. That is why we see doctors (however pricey and annoying) is because they know which type is appropriate for the type of bacteria we have. For example amoxicillin does not do anything for a increasingly common infection called c-diff (mostly in hospitals, but just for an example) while Cipro and Flagly will treat the c-diff but not a common ear infection.

That being said, some doctors are a$$hats and don't know their butts from a hole in the ground.. We really can't win!

No I don't think they should be offered over the counter. Way to many people would be taking them unnecessarily then we would have even more resistant strands wrecking havoc. I to have a DD who gets frequent sinus infections (at least 4 a year, she has had an MRI, we know what causes them). Thankfully I have a great relationship with her Pediatrician, I call him with the symptoms he calls in the one and only antibiotic she can take. He did not start calling them in until I was right about it being a sinus infection 8or 9 times in a row.

No I don't think they should be offered over the counter. Way to many people would be taking them unnecessarily then we would have even more resistant strands wrecking havoc. I to have a DD who gets frequent sinus infections (at least 4 a year, she has had an MRI, we know what causes them). Thankfully I have a great relationship with her Pediatrician, I call him with the symptoms he calls in the one and only antibiotic she can take. He did not start calling them in until I was right about it being a sinus infection 8or 9 times in a row.

I don't think it's a good idea not only because of resistant bacteria strains, but because then you will have parents or anyone else treating potentially serious infections without seeking professional medical care. It scares me to think of an infant with an ear infection being treated with the wrong antibiotic without ever seeing his/her pediatrician. While I do believe in being your own health advocate and working with your doctor to best treat your kid(s), I still feel that a lot of things are better left tothe monitored by a doctor and distributed by a pharmacist.

I don't think it's a good idea not only because of resistant bacteria strains, but because then you will have parents or anyone else treating potentially serious infections without seeking professional medical care. It scares me to think of an infant with an ear infection being treated with the wrong antibiotic without ever seeing his/her pediatrician. While I do believe in being your own health advocate and working with your doctor to best treat your kid(s), I still feel that a lot of things are better left tothe monitored by a doctor and distributed by a pharmacist.

Under no circumstances should antibiotics be moved to OTC. I am a pharmacist, and there is a huge resistance issue already. This would increase the resistance to the point that most people would have no antibiotics that would treat them. Not to mention the adverse effects that people could have due to frequent antibiotic treatment or the fact that they could very easily be allergic to them and not realize it. The reason antibiotics are prescription only is because they require a diagnosis of a bacterial infection. Doctors go to school to learn how to diagnose. The average lay person cannot determine whether they have a bacterial infection or a viral infection, not to mention the fact that antibiotics are not all encompassing. We do not treat all infections with the same antibiotics...some antibiotics do not treat the sinuses or do not penetrate the ear well. There are just too many factors. And that doesn't even begin the discussion of how exactly you would dose these otc antibiotics. They are dosed for children based on a mg/kg dose. Some of them are based on one component in the antibiotic, some are based on another. There just really isn't anyway that this could or should ever happen. If you had any idea how often doctors misprescribe antibiotics or we had to call on a dose because it was inappropriate, and they went to school for a very long time, you would realize that the average person has no business prescribing themselves an antibiotic.

Under no circumstances should antibiotics be moved to OTC. I am a pharmacist, and there is a huge resistance issue already. This would increase the resistance to the point that most people would have no antibiotics that would treat them. Not to mention the adverse effects that people could have due to frequent antibiotic treatment or the fact that they could very easily be allergic to them and not realize it. The reason antibiotics are prescription only is because they require a diagnosis of a bacterial infection. Doctors go to school to learn how to diagnose. The average lay person cannot determine whether they have a bacterial infection or a viral infection, not to mention the fact that antibiotics are not all encompassing. We do not treat all infections with the same antibiotics...some antibiotics do not treat the sinuses or do not penetrate the ear well. There are just too many factors. And that doesn't even begin the discussion of how exactly you would dose these otc antibiotics. They are dosed for children based on a mg/kg dose. Some of them are based on one component in the antibiotic, some are based on another. There just really isn't anyway that this could or should ever happen. If you had any idea how often doctors misprescribe antibiotics or we had to call on a dose because it was inappropriate, and they went to school for a very long time, you would realize that the average person has no business prescribing themselves an antibiotic.

The only problen I see with it is overusing antibiotics. On some types of illnesses, the overuse of antibiotics can cause the bacteria or virus to become immune and makes it resistant. ---------------------------------------------------------- If they were available over the counter, you would have parents giving their kid antibiotics every time they sneeze.

The only problen I see with it is overusing antibiotics. On some types of illnesses, the overuse of antibiotics can cause the bacteria or virus to become immune and makes it resistant. ---------------------------------------------------------- If they were available over the counter, you would have parents giving their kid antibiotics every time they sneeze.

If you have to consult a doctor, there is no point in making them otc...they would still charge you a copay. They have to in order to make money. The insurance companies pay such a small amount for basic sick visits, they would still charge a copay.

As far as consulting a pharmacist, I can tell you what antibiotic is most likely the best one for whatever ails you, but I cannot diagnose you. It is outside my scope of practice. The AMA would put a stop to that as quick as possible.

As far as the allergies go, the average person is not aware of cross reactivity that occurs with some antibiotics.

I am just saying that the AMA would not allow this to happen because of the loss of power and loss of money to the prescribers out there.

If you have to consult a doctor, there is no point in making them otc...they would still charge you a copay. They have to in order to make money. The insurance companies pay such a small amount for basic sick visits, they would still charge a copay.

As far as consulting a pharmacist, I can tell you what antibiotic is most likely the best one for whatever ails you, but I cannot diagnose you. It is outside my scope of practice. The AMA would put a stop to that as quick as possible.

As far as the allergies go, the average person is not aware of cross reactivity that occurs with some antibiotics.

I am just saying that the AMA would not allow this to happen because of the loss of power and loss of money to the prescribers out there.

This is actually one of my pet peeves...the overuse of antibiotics. In your daughter's case of frequent sinus infections, I can understand. It is well documented. However, the common cold can cause green snot and antibiotics cannot touch a virus.

There are a variety of broad spectrum antibiotics out there that I suppose they could make OTC, but that would be a HUGE mistake. There are those that would use and abuse antibiotics when they are completely unnecessary.

Also, as a PP stated, not all antibiotics can treat every infection. Overuse of antibiotics has created "super bugs" such as MRSA, VRE, etc. While we cannot reverse what has already been done, we can slow down the creation of new ones.

This is actually one of my pet peeves...the overuse of antibiotics. In your daughter's case of frequent sinus infections, I can understand. It is well documented. However, the common cold can cause green snot and antibiotics cannot touch a virus.

There are a variety of broad spectrum antibiotics out there that I suppose they could make OTC, but that would be a HUGE mistake. There are those that would use and abuse antibiotics when they are completely unnecessary.

Also, as a PP stated, not all antibiotics can treat every infection. Overuse of antibiotics has created "super bugs" such as MRSA, VRE, etc. While we cannot reverse what has already been done, we can slow down the creation of new ones.

I didn't say you HAD to talk to a doctor, just that you could, or even should, do so. If I get a UTI, for example, I know I have one and would go get the medication that I need without waiting to see my doctor the next day, or going to Urgent Care because I can't tolerate the pain.

If I had a new malady, of course I would see my doctor.

I think that the VAST majority of people are intelligent enough to make this distinction, and be educated about the dangers of over-use of antibiotics.

As far as consulting a pharmacist, I think that recommending which drug would be the best, and advising of possible drug interactions is sufficient anyway. If I come to you with a UTI, I don't need you to diagnose it.

I do agree that it will never happen, but...

I didn't say you HAD to talk to a doctor, just that you could, or even should, do so. If I get a UTI, for example, I know I have one and would go get the medication that I need without waiting to see my doctor the next day, or going to Urgent Care because I can't tolerate the pain.

If I had a new malady, of course I would see my doctor.

I think that the VAST majority of people are intelligent enough to make this distinction, and be educated about the dangers of over-use of antibiotics.

As far as consulting a pharmacist, I think that recommending which drug would be the best, and advising of possible drug interactions is sufficient anyway. If I come to you with a UTI, I don't need you to diagnose it.

I'm an infectious disease doctor (in my second year of fellowship, so
still in training) and I think people treating themselves with
over-the-counter antibiotics would be a disaster. And before somebody brings it up, my opinion has nothing to do with wanting antibiotics to be prescription-only 'because I'll get paid more' or something like that. I get paid the same yearly salary no matter how many patients I see or how I treat
them, so I have no incentive to keep antibiotics prescription-only except that I think it's appropriate medical care.

There are many many different kinds of antibiotics which all treat different types of bacteria and infections. Many times, even doctors have trouble choosing the most appropriate antibiotics for different types of infections--this is why they often call an infectious disease doctor for advice. It's really quite specialized. There are also variations in the dose and duration of treatment, depending on the type of infection and its severity. Since even other doctors frequently need help from me or my colleagues with making these choices, I don't see how a layperson can possibly do it appropriately on their own. That is not even mentioning issues like antibiotic allergies or intolerances. And this is just on the individual level.

On a societal level, OTC antibiotics would result in even more overuse and misuse of antibiotics than we have now, leading to rising resistance rates. Antibiotic resistance is already a huge problem in infectious disease--I see dozens of patients a year now who have infections that are only responsive to one or two (usually older and toxic) antibiotics of the dozens now available. This is a direct result of widespread overuse of antibiotics contributing to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Many people in my field believe that within the next decade or two, it will be common for people to get infections that are not responsive to ANY of the currently available antibiotics, and new antibiotics are not being developed very quickly (low profit margins for drug companies). If that happens, it will be like we are back in the 1920's or 1930's, before antibiotics existed, and people will go back to dying from common infections. We need to do everything we can to prevent development of resistance, which means careful and judicious use of antibiotics, NOT promote development of resistance and 'superbugs'.

I can understand your frustration with your daughter's situation and having to go back to the doctor each time she develops a sinus infection. Many doctors in this situation, if it is a patient they know well who keeps developing the same problem over and over, would be willing to prescribe antibiotics over the phone without seeing the patient. This would save you the time and expense of the doctor's visit, while still maintaining some level of medical supervision to ensure your daughter gets the right medication, at the right dose, for the right amount of time. You might talk to your daughter's pediatrician and see if something like that would be an option for you. I also wonder if your daughter would benefit from saline nasal rinses, nasal steroids to reduce inflammation which blocks off the sinuses, or other measures like this to help her not get sinus infections as often. Has any of that been tried? Good luck in finding a solution. I got sinus infections frequently myself as a child, and it sucks.

I'm an infectious disease doctor (in my second year of fellowship, so
still in training) and I think people treating themselves with
over-the-counter antibiotics would be a disaster. And before somebody brings it up, my opinion has nothing to do with wanting antibiotics to be prescription-only 'because I'll get paid more' or something like that. I get paid the same yearly salary no matter how many patients I see or how I treat
them, so I have no incentive to keep antibiotics prescription-only except that I think it's appropriate medical care.

There are many many different kinds of antibiotics which all treat different types of bacteria and infections. Many times, even doctors have trouble choosing the most appropriate antibiotics for different types of infections--this is why they often call an infectious disease doctor for advice. It's really quite specialized. There are also variations in the dose and duration of treatment, depending on the type of infection and its severity. Since even other doctors frequently need help from me or my colleagues with making these choices, I don't see how a layperson can possibly do it appropriately on their own. That is not even mentioning issues like antibiotic allergies or intolerances. And this is just on the individual level.

On a societal level, OTC antibiotics would result in even more overuse and misuse of antibiotics than we have now, leading to rising resistance rates. Antibiotic resistance is already a huge problem in infectious disease--I see dozens of patients a year now who have infections that are only responsive to one or two (usually older and toxic) antibiotics of the dozens now available. This is a direct result of widespread overuse of antibiotics contributing to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. Many people in my field believe that within the next decade or two, it will be common for people to get infections that are not responsive to ANY of the currently available antibiotics, and new antibiotics are not being developed very quickly (low profit margins for drug companies). If that happens, it will be like we are back in the 1920's or 1930's, before antibiotics existed, and people will go back to dying from common infections. We need to do everything we can to prevent development of resistance, which means careful and judicious use of antibiotics, NOT promote development of resistance and 'superbugs'.

I can understand your frustration with your daughter's situation and having to go back to the doctor each time she develops a sinus infection. Many doctors in this situation, if it is a patient they know well who keeps developing the same problem over and over, would be willing to prescribe antibiotics over the phone without seeing the patient. This would save you the time and expense of the doctor's visit, while still maintaining some level of medical supervision to ensure your daughter gets the right medication, at the right dose, for the right amount of time. You might talk to your daughter's pediatrician and see if something like that would be an option for you. I also wonder if your daughter would benefit from saline nasal rinses, nasal steroids to reduce inflammation which blocks off the sinuses, or other measures like this to help her not get sinus infections as often. Has any of that been tried? Good luck in finding a solution. I got sinus infections frequently myself as a child, and it sucks.

Do you go to the Dr. for every sniffle or sneeze or leaky body part before you take a medication? Do you ALWAYS consult a pharmacist when you have these symptoms and ask for recommendations? There are many, many, many people out there that DO NOT!!! They take medications based off the recommendations of friends, family, webMD (not always reliable) and would take antibiotics the same way.

Pharmacists are not diagnosticians. They prescribe medication based upon a physician's interpretation of the symptoms and diagnosis. They can make suggestions or changes accordingly in dosage and...I'm not sure...but the pharmacist that just posted can tell you exactly. A person cannot just walk up to them and say, "I have a respiratory infection, what antibiotic do you recommend?" It would depend on the bacteria present in your phlegm (if any) and what other symptoms the person presents. Do they have pneumonia, the flu, or a cold? The pharmacist doesn't know and neither do they. Antibiotics do not treat viruses!!!

Side question: Do you think controlled narcotics should be OTC, too? Based off your PP, I think you would...

Do you go to the Dr. for every sniffle or sneeze or leaky body part before you take a medication? Do you ALWAYS consult a pharmacist when you have these symptoms and ask for recommendations? There are many, many, many people out there that DO NOT!!! They take medications based off the recommendations of friends, family, webMD (not always reliable) and would take antibiotics the same way.

Pharmacists are not diagnosticians. They prescribe medication based upon a physician's interpretation of the symptoms and diagnosis. They can make suggestions or changes accordingly in dosage and...I'm not sure...but the pharmacist that just posted can tell you exactly. A person cannot just walk up to them and say, "I have a respiratory infection, what antibiotic do you recommend?" It would depend on the bacteria present in your phlegm (if any) and what other symptoms the person presents. Do they have pneumonia, the flu, or a cold? The pharmacist doesn't know and neither do they. Antibiotics do not treat viruses!!!

Side question: Do you think controlled narcotics should be OTC, too? Based off your PP, I think you would...

I'll just chime in to say I agree with the 'no way' camp on here. I'm an Evolutionary Biologist... Like many people have already pointed out the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a major public health disaster waiting to happen. And also, I have to respectfully disagree with the argument that most people would go to a doctor if they had a new problem rather than get the OTC antibiotic. My mother (not a dumb woman usually :) ) never takes the full course of antibiotics... She starts to feel better and says she doesn't need them anymore. I've tried explaining to her the reason why this is wrong until I'm blue in the face and she still won't listen. Basically I don't want people like her taking antibiotics unless they are prescribed... And I really wish her doctor would emphasize the importance of taking it until the rx is finished!

I'll just chime in to say I agree with the 'no way' camp on here. I'm an Evolutionary Biologist... Like many people have already pointed out the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a major public health disaster waiting to happen. And also, I have to respectfully disagree with the argument that most people would go to a doctor if they had a new problem rather than get the OTC antibiotic. My mother (not a dumb woman usually :) ) never takes the full course of antibiotics... She starts to feel better and says she doesn't need them anymore. I've tried explaining to her the reason why this is wrong until I'm blue in the face and she still won't listen. Basically I don't want people like her taking antibiotics unless they are prescribed... And I really wish her doctor would emphasize the importance of taking it until the rx is finished!

Do you go to the Dr. for every sniffle or sneeze or leaky body part before you take a medication? Do you ALWAYS consult a pharmacist when you have these symptoms and ask for recommendations?

No. And, no. But, I don't need to right now, because I have to get a prescription anyway. If I didn't need a prescription, being an intelligent and educated person, I would consult with professionals before taking something that has potentially adverse effects. I think that they vast majority of people are intelligent enough to do the same.

Pharmacists are not diagnosticians. They prescribe medication based
upon a physician's interpretation of the symptoms and diagnosis. They
can make suggestions or changes accordingly in dosage and...I'm not
sure...but the pharmacist that just posted can tell you exactly. A
person cannot just walk up to them and say, "I have a respiratory
infection, what antibiotic do you recommend?" It would depend on the
bacteria present in your phlegm (if any) and what other symptoms the
person presents. Do they have pneumonia, the flu, or a cold? The
pharmacist doesn't know and neither do they. Antibiotics do not treat
viruses!!!

Then, in that case, the pharmacist would say exactly that and recommend that the person see a doctor, which most people would do anyway. Would you see a doctor if you were having respiratory distress? I would! But, if I went to the pharmacist and said "I have a UTI" I would already know which antibiotics I have been given for that (over and over again).

Side question: Do you think controlled narcotics should be OTC, too? Based off your PP, I think you would..

Yes.

Do you go to the Dr. for every sniffle or sneeze or leaky body part before you take a medication? Do you ALWAYS consult a pharmacist when you have these symptoms and ask for recommendations?

No. And, no. But, I don't need to right now, because I have to get a prescription anyway. If I didn't need a prescription, being an intelligent and educated person, I would consult with professionals before taking something that has potentially adverse effects. I think that they vast majority of people are intelligent enough to do the same.

Pharmacists are not diagnosticians. They prescribe medication based
upon a physician's interpretation of the symptoms and diagnosis. They
can make suggestions or changes accordingly in dosage and...I'm not
sure...but the pharmacist that just posted can tell you exactly. A
person cannot just walk up to them and say, "I have a respiratory
infection, what antibiotic do you recommend?" It would depend on the
bacteria present in your phlegm (if any) and what other symptoms the
person presents. Do they have pneumonia, the flu, or a cold? The
pharmacist doesn't know and neither do they. Antibiotics do not treat
viruses!!!

Then, in that case, the pharmacist would say exactly that and recommend that the person see a doctor, which most people would do anyway. Would you see a doctor if you were having respiratory distress? I would! But, if I went to the pharmacist and said "I have a UTI" I would already know which antibiotics I have been given for that (over and over again).

Side question: Do you think controlled narcotics should be OTC, too? Based off your PP, I think you would..

Would you see a doctor if you were having respiratory distress? I
would!

If I was in respiratory distress, yes I would go to the doctor. There are those, though that will do anything to avoid seeing a physician even in cases of severe respiratory distress. I work as a respiratory therapist and have seen many cases where the patient tried to self treat, seeking advice only from family members, friends, and the internet. They buy medication OTC for what they thought was a cold and end up in the ER intubated, on a ventilator, and in the ICU for an exacerbated lung disease and a pneumonia on top of it. They could have possibly prevented all of this by seeking professional advice, but many won't, can't, or are just too lazy to truly care. Insurance plays a large factor in all of this as well.

Then, in that case, the pharmacist would say exactly that and recommend
that the person see a doctor, which most people would do anyway.

It would be nice to assume that all people are as intelligent as you and I and most of the HT board are and seek professional advice before taking a medication that can have severe side effects or even no effect at all. That is just not the case. There is a VAST majority of people that do not have faith in our health care system, and won't even take the basic step of simply asking the pharmacist for advice. OTC antibiotics would be a Godsend because then they could REALLY bypass the system.

Some people are even stubborn enough to profess that the health care professionals are wrong and would then demand to be given the medication. If antibiotics were OTC, the pharmacist could not truly deny them service.

if I went to the pharmacist and said "I have a UTI" I would already know
which antibiotics I have been given for that (over and over again).

People that have good report with their physicians can call and get
these prescriptions easily.

"Excuse me, I have a UTI, could I get some _________?" a lot of people don't really know. The pharmacist does not know that this person may have significant experience with the symptoms of a UTI and know what they need. People lie, pharmacy hop, and do whatever they have to do to get what they want or think they need. More than some would like to admit.

``````````````````````````````````````

Antibiotics are extremely overused and the more they are used, the more "super bugs" are created. It's unfortunate that they are still prescribed unnecessarily. Making them OTC would only make this problem worse (see infectious disease Dr.'s post).

Would you see a doctor if you were having respiratory distress? I
would!

If I was in respiratory distress, yes I would go to the doctor. There are those, though that will do anything to avoid seeing a physician even in cases of severe respiratory distress. I work as a respiratory therapist and have seen many cases where the patient tried to self treat, seeking advice only from family members, friends, and the internet. They buy medication OTC for what they thought was a cold and end up in the ER intubated, on a ventilator, and in the ICU for an exacerbated lung disease and a pneumonia on top of it. They could have possibly prevented all of this by seeking professional advice, but many won't, can't, or are just too lazy to truly care. Insurance plays a large factor in all of this as well.

Then, in that case, the pharmacist would say exactly that and recommend
that the person see a doctor, which most people would do anyway.

It would be nice to assume that all people are as intelligent as you and I and most of the HT board are and seek professional advice before taking a medication that can have severe side effects or even no effect at all. That is just not the case. There is a VAST majority of people that do not have faith in our health care system, and won't even take the basic step of simply asking the pharmacist for advice. OTC antibiotics would be a Godsend because then they could REALLY bypass the system.

Some people are even stubborn enough to profess that the health care professionals are wrong and would then demand to be given the medication. If antibiotics were OTC, the pharmacist could not truly deny them service.

if I went to the pharmacist and said "I have a UTI" I would already know
which antibiotics I have been given for that (over and over again).

People that have good report with their physicians can call and get
these prescriptions easily.

"Excuse me, I have a UTI, could I get some _________?" a lot of people don't really know. The pharmacist does not know that this person may have significant experience with the symptoms of a UTI and know what they need. People lie, pharmacy hop, and do whatever they have to do to get what they want or think they need. More than some would like to admit.

``````````````````````````````````````

Antibiotics are extremely overused and the more they are used, the more "super bugs" are created. It's unfortunate that they are still prescribed unnecessarily. Making them OTC would only make this problem worse (see infectious disease Dr.'s post).

I'm a clinical microbiologist and obviously totally against OTC antibiotics. People who have no formal education in medicine, pharmacy, clinical science have no clue of the implications of such a thing. It would be a disaster.

I'm a clinical microbiologist and obviously totally against OTC antibiotics. People who have no formal education in medicine, pharmacy, clinical science have no clue of the implications of such a thing. It would be a disaster.

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